Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-07-15
THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC.
MIR. Depew's Grafton at the Saratog
Meeting.

fully sustained the reputation of Ameri
cans for courage and constancy. And yet
one side or the other was wrong 1t was
slavery and dsunion, or freedom and
union, and one must not only yield but
die. The God of Battles decided for liber-
ty and nationality, and no surviving
soldier who fought in either army to-day
doubts the righteousness of that verdict.
The best and bravest thinkers of the South
gladly proclaim that the superb develop
ment which has been the outgrowth of
their defeat is worth all its losses, its sac
ri1ices and humiliations. As torrents OF
living waters flowed from the rock smit-
ten by Moses in the desert, so from the
touch OF liberty has come an industrial re.
volution full of prosperity and promise.
Let the youth of all sections grow up from
generation to generation taught the lesson
and imbued with the sentiment, that this
republic is not confederacy of indepeu-
dent States, but a nation, with the right
ana power to use the last dollar and enlist
the last man to maintain the authority OF
thee cGstitution and the supremacy of the
Nag Whoever is offended by this is not
a loyal citizen, and should reconstruct or
emigrate.
In 1860 the developed and assessable
property of the United States was valued
at sixteen thousand millions of dollars.
One-half of this enormous sum was des-
troyed by the civil war. and yet so pro
dlgiOus has been the growth of wealth I'M
der the conditions created by the national
victory and the settlement of reconstruc-
ton, that in this month of June 1857, the
estimate surpasses the imperial figure of
sixty thousand millions of dollars, and the
growth at nearly seven millions day.
Our wealth approXimates one-half of that
OF all Europe, and it is an easy task for
the statlstlcian to aggregate civilized gov
erhmentS with populations of hundreds of
millions of people which are paupers in
the scale of comparisons. These unparal
leled results can be protected and con
tlnued only by the spirit represented by
your sacrifices and inspiring your vic
tories-the spirit of patriotism. This is u
republic, and neither Mammon nor Anar-
chy shall be king. The American asks
only for fair field and an equal chance
He believes that every man is entitled for
himself and his children to the full en-
Joyment of all he honestly earns But he
Will seek and find the means for eradca-
ting conditions which hopeessly handicap
him from the start In this contest he does
not want the assistance of the red flag,
and he regards with hostility those who
march under that banner and those who
furnish argument and excuse for its eX.
lstence. The ranks of anarchy and riot
number no Americans. The leaders bold
t,
to enjoy the blessings OF our liberty and to
sustain our Institutions but to DESTROY
our government and dethrone our laws,
to cut our Threats and div "e our property.
Dissatisfied labor furnishes the opportu-
nifty to preach their doctrines and mobs to
try their tactics Their recruiting officers
are active i'll every city in Europe, and for
once despotic governments give them ac
cord and assistance in securing and ship
ping to America the most dangerous ele-
ments of their populations. We do not
wish to prohibit emigration, but our laws
should be rlgidly revised so that we may
at least have some voice in the selection of
orr guests. We cannot afford to become
the dumping-gr ground of the world for its
VICIOUS or ignorant orworthless or diseased
we Will welcome, as always. all patriots
lleelng from oppression, all who will con-
tribute to the strength of our Government
and the development of our resources, and
we will freely grant to all who become
citizens equal rights and privileges under
the laws and in making them with the
soldiers who saved the Republic, but no
more. There Is room in this country for
only one flag, and "Old Glory" must head
the procession or it cannot march
A nation of the power and position of
the United States should have navy
strong enough to protect it's coasts and
harbors, to maintain its honor and enforce
respect for its flag, and an army worthy
OF the nameWars have noticeased. With our
revlvlng commerce and growing interests
all over the world, we may at any time be
embrolled in conflict with some Euro
pean or South American government
That turkey or Chill could sweep our
navy from the seas in IA month that there
Is no gun or armament in any of our ports
which could prevent an ron-clad from en-
terlng the harbor and destroying our chief
cities or levying hundreds of millions of
tribute, Is not gratifying to our sense, our
security or our pride. We are in the en-
joyInent OF profound domestic Tranquil
llty, but the safety of every man i'll his
| home, his family, his children and his pro-
perry Is only IN the supremacy of the
laws. Among sixty millions of people
and soon to be hundred millions, spread
over a continent, there Is liable to arise at
any time instruction or riots from econo-
| mic or political or religious or social
causes beyond the power of local or State
| authorities to meet. 1t is the glory of the
army and the pride of the nation that
since the formation of the government no
| regiment or company of the United States
soldiers has ever joined the enemy, sym
| pathlZed with the instruction or sided
with rebellion. That an efficient, thor
| oughly drilled and equipped body of citi-
zen soldiers should exist in every State
OF which ne better EXAMPLE exists than the
| National Guard of New York-is too self
evident for discussion it keeps alive the
| martial spirit OF patriotism and principle
of voluntary service But have no fears
of the fuifilment of Macaulay's direful
forebodings. | have unlimited faith in the
absorbent properties of American commu-
mites, and the solvent powers of American
| liberty. Let us take care of the Mosts,
the Spies and the Schwabs and the press,
the platform, the school, the church and
English language will make honest citi-
zens of their followers and their descen-
dents. Every man who leads a temperate
and industrious life and organizes himself
into an anti-poverty society of one, has
secured his independence and individual
prosperity, and become a champion OF
order and bulwark of law. So long as
the veterans of the Civil war can carry
muskets and rally at the command, the
nation has most effective army. But
age, disease and death are fast thinning
their ranks. Their active service
VIII soon be only glorious memories fol
the inspiration of others. Their story will
be the recruiting sergeant of coming gen
erations.
To the Army of the Potomac belongs
the unique distinction of being its owr
hero. 1t fought more battles and los
more in killed and wounded thar
ut ba ahn ~.